NEWS
Events Volunteer Opportunities Education & Training
Alamo Area Chapter www.txmn.org/alamo Volume 15 No. 7
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
July, 2011
By Liz Robbins
There will be no general business meeting or monthly training class in July. Instead, the AAMN board will hold its annual board retreat. This annual AAMN retreat provides an opportunity for board members, chairs and committee members to discuss and evaluate the past events and policies, and set a plan for future goals for the AAMN. This is the time for AAMN members to share their concerns, ideas, and suggestions with the leadership groups. To give us your input, please contact any of the officers found on the right column of this page, or committee chairs, usually found listed on page two.
No Board Meeting in July Due to AAMN Retreat
No General Meeting in July Due to AAMN Retreat
In other news, you will soon be hearing about changes coming to our AAMN chapter. The Board of Directors and appropriate committees are working with our state sponsors to ensure that AAMN meets requirements to qualify for state liability insurance and funding. Needless to say, the Master Naturalist program has grown tremendously over the past few years and with that growth has come new responsibilities for our chapter and the state program. In the coming weeks you will receive information concerning the background check, active versus inactive membership, and reporting of hours. The information to be distributed will include background on why the change is needed as well as steps that you will need to take. Please watch for these updates and respond as quickly as possible with your preferences. Those of you who are members of the Native Plant Society of Texas probably saw the article by our own Cheryl Hamilton-MN Class #21, titled ―Citizen scientists eradicate invasive plants‖ in their latest quarterly newsletter. Congratulations Cheryl for a great article and thanks to you and the Texas Invaders for helping stem the tide of invasive plants in our native areas. The column on ‗News of the Balcones Satellite of the Texas Invaders‘ found on page 6 in this issue, includes more information and how to access the article on the NPSOT website.
President Liz Robbins srobbins@gvtc.com 830-336-2778 Vice-President Linda Gindler ljgindler@earthlink.net
Finally, how about that RAIN ? ! ? ! ? It was wonderful to hear the thunder and see the lightning at two in the morning. It was even better to wake up several hours later and still hear the rain hitting the roof. Up until that evening, our thirsty ground, depleting water sources and wildlife were feeling the effects of the drought. This beautiful, welcome rain helped to quench some of that thirst that was being experienced by all. Now we just wait for the next deluge! May it come soon.
Treasurer Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Secretary Barbara Harder dbjharder@sbcglobal.net
Immediate Past President Anton Hajek tonyhajek@yahoo.com
Hummingbird photos by Susan Morgan , Class #28
NEWS FROM THE BOARD COMMITTEES Projects to be reviewed for approval as a Master Naturalist activity must be submitted on the Submission for Activity Approval form before the event. Forms can be obtained by contacting Pamela Ball, pball12@satx.rr.com, or from the AAMN website at: http://txmn.org/alamo/jointhe-alamo-chapter/activity-approval-form/
PLEASE REPORT YOUR HOURS ! ACTIVATE YOUR 2011GOOGLE DOCS ACCOUNT TODAY Reporting hours is easy on Google Docs or with the EXCEL spreadsheet form that was developed for e-mail submission or for mailing in your hours. It is available online, go to http://txmn.org/alamo/chapter-business/forms/ and click AAMN Volunteer Hours Log .
Where to report your hours by mail or e-mail: Last names A-H Last Names I-M Last names N-Z Nancy Thoss Howard Homan Ling Yin Liu 1610 Forest Spring 1218 Olympic Club 4946 Dare Lane San Antonio, TX 78232 San Antonio, TX 78260 San Antonio, TX 78217 nthoss1610@yahoo.com hhoman@satx.rr.com ling.liu@sanantonio.gov John Wolcott, jwolcott@satx.rr.com, & Roy Yarnold, royyarnold@sbcglobal.net, have not only volunteered to assist you with this effort but also serve as the clearing-house for information regarding reported hours, hours that have vanished and those that have gone unreported. ‗One of a kind‘ certification pins are awarded each year to those who achieve eight hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service. This year that pin is a Horned Lizard. Milestone dragonfly pins are also awarded for 250, 500, 1000, 2500, and 5000 VSH.
MONTHLY MEETINGS
AAMN Website Needs Help with Content There are a lot of new pages on the AAMN website, including a page of links to class photos at FlickR, an Activities tab, and an Alamo Area Natural History tab. The Natural History site has second level pages for ecoregions, birds, mammals, native plants, invasives, reptiles and more. The individual pages have a brief introduction about the topic, then annotated photos of local flora and fauna. We need people to send in suggestions for more topics and to send in detail items for all the pages. Send your picture and a paragraph describing it written in your word processor or editor. Please include information sources and links to more complete data about your item.. Please e-mail your content to reichert@satx.rr.com or epenrod@gvtc.com.
There will be no meeting in July due to the AAMN Retreat on July 9th. AUGUST MEETING: What‘s Happened to All the Horny Toads? Ask a child today what a Texas horned lizard is and they will probably give you a confused look. Ask that child‘s parents or grandparents that same question and it will most likely invoke fond childhood memories. Once common throughout Texas, horned lizards are now found only in the western and southern parts of the state. Join Peggy Darr, Nature Preserve Officer at Medina River Natural Area (City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department), to learn all about these lovable lizards and what can be done to help them.
PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS
AAMN Documents Online At: AAMN Documents Access important chapter documents including bylaws and minutes online.
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ancy Phillips is working on a project that will display all the wonderful things our members are doing out in the community. Send your photos, with captions when possible, to anrjp1@aol.com. Photos are also needed for the web & facebook.
Activities Information Chair Pam Ball pball12@satx.rr.com Community Outreach Lissa Martinez lisa@satx.rr.com Historian Nancy Phillips anrjp1@aol.com Hospitality Chair Nancy Brown nan.bro@att.net Membership & Pin Awards Chair John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com Hours Submission Nancy Thoss nthoss1610@yahoo.com Howard Homan hhoman@satx.rr.com Ling Yin Liu Ling.liu@sanantonio.gov Media & Technology Chair David Reichert reichert@satx.rr.com Newsletter Editor reichert@satx.rr.com Calendar Frank Ballard fm4459@sbcglobal.net Web Pages Evelyn Penrod epenrod@gvtc.com Marketing Info & Materials Milly Alejos mildred.alejos@sbcgloball.net Programs Chair Jessica Leslie jleslie01@hotmail.com Education & Training Chair Pam Ball pball12@saxt.rr.com
Update Your Contact Info CLICK HERE to update your contact information. Just fill in the form and click SUBMIT.
Vol. 15, No. 7—July, 2011
Web Calendar of Events
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Bird Count/Survey Sat, July 23, 8am – 12pm Michell Lake Audubon Center, 10750 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio, TX (map) Bird count/Survey is conducted every fourth Saturday. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, including a hat, long pants, closed-toes shoes. Wear sunscreen and bring water! We can even loan you binoculars if you need them. For more information, email us at mlac@audubon.org or call (210) 628-1639. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
Docent Training Program Become a Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Docent If you enjoy being outdoors, bird-watching, gardening, working with children, or sharing your love of nature with others, then you will feel right at home at Mitchell Lake. Whatever your talents and interests, we have an opportunity for you!
By Frank Ballard If you‗ve browsed our new website, you‗ve likely reviewed the calendar page and noticed that it contains all our activities, events, and more. Below is an overview of some of the calendar features. When opening the calendar, you‗ll see all the activities and events for the month. At the top left are arrows that allow you to move from month to month with a mouse click. To the right, a print icon allows for printing the calendar. Next to that are three tabs: week, month, and agenda. While the calendar defaults to the agenda view when it opens, you can click on the week or month tabs for different views. Click on a listed activity and all the details for that activity display. Additionally, you‗ll find out if the activity qualifies for volunteer service hours or advanced training (see the legend at the very top of the page). All AAMN events such as meetings, field trips, and social activities are marked with a green event flair. The calendar offers another tool for planning your Master Naturalist activi-ties. For comments or questions please contact Frank Ballard at 210-557-9596 or fm4459@sbcglobal.net.
Docent training is a 5-week course that will be held every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. starting August 20, 2011. Training includes the history of Mitchell Lake, bird and plant identification, wildlife management, nature center procedures, and educational nature interpretation. The cost to participate is $35.00. Lunch is provided. For more information, please contact Michelle Eckman, Education Manager at 210-628-1639 or email at meckman@audubon.org and see the website www.mitchelllakeaudubon.org Approved for Advanced Training
Education Docents are needed to facilitate many school groups on their visits to MLAC throughout the fall. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
Vol. 15, No. 7—July, 2011
Class 19 Cal Eichler 210-828-0833 Class 20 Suzanne Benavides & Palani Whiting Class 21 Nancy Brown nan.bro@att.net & Wendy Thornton Class 22 Linda Painter Darst donlindadarst@msn.com & Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Class 23 Steve Guerrant & Gary Trede gtrede@earthlink.net Class 24 John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com & Susan Hunnicutt schunnicut@aol.com Class 25 & State Representative Ron Tullius 210-739-2566 rvtullius@sbcglobal.net
Blackfoot Daisies Photos by Susan Morgan Engelmann Daisies (below)
Class 26 Dwight Henderson 210-496-5934 dwight10@hotmail.com Class 27 David Reichert reichert@satx.rr.com & Evelyn Penrod epenrod@gvtc.com Class 28 Joe Novy novyja@gmail.com & Phil Minor minorpa@hotmail.com
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Government Canyon State Natural Area Hike the Canyon Texas Master Volunteer Entomology Specialist Program Do your friends think you a little eccentric because of your interest in creeping/crawling things? The Texas Master Volunteer Entomology Specialist Program<http://agrilife.org/insectspecialist/> may be just the thing for you. Offered annually, this year's program will be held at the Research and Extension Center in Dallas. It's a great opportunity for any Master Naturalists or Master Gardeners with a special interest in insects to get a week of in-depth entomology training. The training will earn you certification as a specialist through your statewide Master Volunteer program. The course is approximately 40 hours-long, with field trips and laboratories in addition to lectures by both Extension entomologists and local insect experts. Once the course is completed, students are required to contribute a minimum 15 hours of volunteer contributions to the county office (above and beyond the 12 hour volunteer requirement for Master Gardeners) to receive their certification. To read all about this year's program contents, click here<http://agrilife.org/insectspecialist/2011-training-indallas/>.
Sat, July 9, 8am – 12pm Government Canyon State Natural Area, 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, Tx (map) Join the Friends of Government Canyon and the Sierra Club for a jointly-led guided hike on one of the many trails at Government Canyon State Natural Area. Length of hike will range from 4 to 7 miles depending on the group. Open to ages 13 and over; minors must be accompanied by an adult; group size limited to the first 12 people; no pets please; Natural Area entrance fees apply. Dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes for hiking over rough terrain; bring two liters of water and a snack. Meet at the Visitors Center by the rainwater harvesting tower; subject to cancellation. For more information and to confirm program, call (210) 688-9055, ext 291. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
Explore the Canyon Registration must be completed and submitted online, but the form must also be printed and mailed in with registration, per instructions on the website: http://agrilife.org/insectspecialist/registration-for-2011-class/ If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us through Ms. Kaye Garrison (972-952-9201). Registration is filling up quickly and is based on a first-come-first-served basis. There is a maximum class size of 30 to keep the instruction as personal as possible and allow us to do all those cool hands-on activities. Michael E. Merchant, PhD, BCE Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist Texas AgriLife Extension Service 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas, TX 75252-6599 972-952 -9204 email: m-merchant@tamu.ed u<mailto :m merchant@tamu.edu>Blog for professionals: http:// insectsinthecity.blogspot.com<http://insectsinthecity.blogspot.com/ > Website: http://citybugs.tamu.edu<http://citybugs.tamu.edu/
Sat, July 16, 8am – 12pm Government Canyon State Natural Area, 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, Tx (map) Knowledgeable guides discuss the flora, fauna, natural and cultural history of this awesome natural area on this exploration. Length of walk and interpretive topic will vary, depending on the group. Open to all ages; group size limited to the first 12 people; Natural Area entry fees apply. Dress appropriately, sunscreen and hat recommended, and wear sturdy footwear appropriate for rough trails; bring two liters of water and a snack. Meet at the Visitors Center by the rainwater harvesting tower. No pets please; subject to cancellation. For more information and to confirm program, call (210) 688-9055, ext 291. Approved for volunteer service hours if a hike leader. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
American Goldfinch 4
Ladderback Woodpecker Photos by Susan Morgan, Class #28
Carolina Chickadee Vol. 15, No. 7—July, 2011
Wildlife Rehab Reminder: please enter your hours earned through June by July 5 so we can accurately report our totals to state by mid July. The following have earned awards this month Name
Class
Award
Joe Novy Jody Ruhl Mary Sanders
28 27 27
Dragon Fly Dragon Fly Dragon Fly
Jamie Daily Linda Gindler Patsy Inglet Tom Inglet Melba Jacobson Roy Leslie Judith Rodriguez
22 23 8 8 3 24 17
Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned Lizard
Gail Cooper Carolyn Estes Kathy Krnavek
4 24 24
250 Hours 250 Hours 250 Hours
If I have missed someone or you have question or concerns about the Google process, don‘ hesitate to contact me. John Wolcott, membership chairperson jwolcott@satx.rr.com or 210-497-4365
Antelope Horn Milkweed Photost by Susan Morgan, class #28
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Opportunities Saturdays, July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23th, & 30th: 10am – 11am (map) Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR) offers many volunteer opportunities. The first step for any volunteer wishing to work hands-on with animals would be to attend an orientation. We hold orientations at 2 locations: one in San Antonio (137 Earl Street, 78212) and one in Kendalia (335 Old Blanco Rd, 78027). The SA orientations are on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month, the Kendalia orientations are on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Orientations begin at 10:00 am. Potential volunteers can fill out an application on the day of the orientation. It is requested that anyone attending an orientation first contact the Director of Outreach, Krystal Mathis, at krystalm@wildlife-rescue.org or by phone at 830-336-2725, x304. Alternately, those wishing to participate in WRR‘s mission without working hands-on with animals can help in other ways. For those in the Master Naturalist program, potential volunteers in the fields of diet preparation, gardening, landscaping, maintenance, and construction do not have to first attend an orientation, if not desired. There are periodic group opportunities as well as daily individual or small-group opportunities. Anyone wishing to become involved should contact Krystal Mathis, using the information above . Approved for Advanced Training/Volunteer Service Hours
Brackenridge Park Nature Challenge 2011 Sat, July 30, 9am – 12pm Brackenridge Park, 3910 N Saint Marys St, San Antonio, Tx (map) Opening ceremonies for the Alamo Area competition are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2011, at the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio. Closing ceremonies will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 30,2011, at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio. AAMN T-Shirt and Nametag must be worn if assisting. For more information about Nature Challenge 2011, visit http://naturechallenge.tamu.edu OR Contact: Sasha Kodet, Education Coordinator, San Antonio Botanical Garden 210-2073270, Sasha.Kodet@sanantonio.gov Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
Vol. 15, No. 7—July, 2011
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San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, Tx (map)
News from the Balcones Satellite of the Texas Invaders
Water Saver Walk, Fri, July 1, 10am – 12am
Coming soon to a venue near you. The Balcones Satellite of the Texas Invaders are continuing their activities at Rancho Diana and the Madla Natural Area but are expanding their activities to more of the SAPAR greenway areas, specifically the Leon Creek Greenway. Much of the major invasive plant removal at Rancho Diana and Madla Natural Area has been completed so that more of the work in these areas is monitoring and periodic removal. We anticipate we will add additional SAPAR areas in the future depending on the preferences of regular volunteers. There are plenty of invasives to go around, including an area near Brackenridge Park that has kudzu vine. Anyone wanting to tackle that stuff that grows in feet, not inches, let us know and we will link you with the key personnel in SAPAR who are handling this ‗invasive of invasives.‘
and July 16, 10 am-12 am, Sponsored by the San Antonio Water System. Looking for ideas about how to have a beautiful landscape at your home AND conserve water? Wondering what plants grow best in San Antonio soils and are the most efficient water users? Get answers to your landscaping questions by joining San Antonio Botanical Garden Guides for a tour of the WaterSaver Garden exhibits. The tour includes information about planning, planting and maintaining your low -water use landscape year-round. WaterSaver Walks are free with Garden admission. Participants receive a FREE copy of the San Antonio Water System's Landscape Care Guide. For more info contact: Sasha Kodet sasha.kodet@sanantonio.gov (210)207-3270 Approved for Advanced Training
Cordage-making with Native Texas Yucca Sat, July 2, 10am – 12pm San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, Tx (map) Michael Harrison presents an introductory class on the basics of making high tensile cords with fibers taken from a variety of local yucca plants. Students will learn the terminology and concepts of collecting plants, prepping materials and rolling fibers to produce cordage suitable for a variety of uses in primitive life. Limit 20 participants. Fee: $20. To register, contact Sasha Kodet at or sasha.kodet@sanantonio.gov Approved for Advanced Training
Beginning Bird Walk, Sat, July 16, 9:00am – 10:30am Third Saturday of each month. Meet at Carriage House. Enjoy birds in native habitats at the Garden and check out our Bird Watch in the South Texas area. Our bird checklist is at www.sabot.org. Meet at the Carriage House. Walks held on the third Saturday of the month. Free for SA Botanical Garden members; nonmembers $8/adult. 555 Funston. 207-3250. Approved for Advanced Training
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, Photo by Liz Robbins
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We would love to have more of you join us, so if you want more details about our activities email Judith.shockley@satx.rr.com to be added to Balcones invaders list. Locations of activities and directions are sent weekly to those on the list. Recent accomplishments. The current issue of NPSOT magazine (Summer 2011 Vol. 29 no. 3 or www.npsot.org) includes an article by Cheryl Hamilton that highlights some of our local invasive activities and the important role of volunteers in these efforts.
Summer schedule. 7:30 am – 9:30 am June 28 – Leon Creek Greenway. July 12 – TBA, July 19 – TBA, July 26 – TBA, August 2 - TBA, August 9 - TBA, August 16 - TBA, August 23 - TBA, August 30 - TBA TBA sites will be Madla Natural Area, Rancho Diana, or Leon Creek Greenway. Approved for Advanced Training/Volunteer Service Hours
Other invasive activity venues include the Headwaters Sanctuary (contact person: Helen Ballew helen.ballew@amormeus.org) Because we will be changing locations frequently and will cancel in the event of severe weather conditions be sure to email Lonnie (lonnieshockley@satx.rr.com) by 6 pm on Monday if you plan to join us. Approved for Advanced Training/Volunteer Service Hours Vol. 15, No. 7—July, 2011
City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department Natural Areas
River Walk Garden Workday
July 2011 Stewardship Activities
Has been cancelled for July and August.
There is good news and bad news. The good news is we anticipate finishing the rest of our vegetation surveys by the time you are reading this newsletter. So, we gathered most of our ―regular‖ volunteers, discussed the options, and decided that the best thing to do in July is to minimize exposure to the extreme heat and drought, and to rest up for future projects. For me, that is the bad news— because I really enjoy and appreciate working with volunteers. Our volunteers contribute so much and in so many ways to the care of, and learning about, our precious Natural Areas. Some folks worry that they do not know enough about plants or how to use a compass or a GPS. So they think they cannot help or have very little to offer. Truth is, every question someone asks and every time I teach a skill is an opportunity for me to learn more, communicate better, consider alternatives, examine the assumed, and appreciate learning styles. I have gained so much from folks who know a lot about vegetation, birds, data analysis, and field work; and I have also been enriched by those who come with little or no experience but with open minds, willing attitudes, and cooperative spirits. So, this July, dear volunteers, celebrate your own goodness and rest. Soon we will have more great projects with which we hope you will help! If you have any questions, please contact Jayne Neal (210-3729124, jayne.neal@sanantonio.gov) or Wendy Leonard (210-372 -9124, wendy.leonard@sanantonio.gov). The link below gives great information on how to get trees for you and your neighbors this coming fall.—- Liz Robbins http://www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec/ plant_tress_san_antonio_tree_challenge.aspx
San Antonio River Mission Reach Public Tour Sat, July 16, 10am & 11 am Roosevelt Park, 331 Roosevelt Avenue, San Antonio, Tx (map) Guided nature tours of Phase 1 will be held on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Tours will begin at Roosevelt Park in the small pavilion by the river and basketball courts and will last approximately 45 minutes. For more information about the guided hikes, contact (210) 227-1373. Approved for AT/VSH If Assisting
Regularly scheduled Second Friday of each month workdays will resume in September
Medina River Natural Area Thursday, July 28, 8:30am—11:00am SA Youth Group hike (map) Field Guides are needed for this hike. Please arrive at 8:30 for the hike that starts at 9:00. For more information, please contact Susan L .Campbell at 210-207-3106 Approved for VHS if assisting
Hot Tub Naturalist by Anton Hajek I continually grouse about the dry and the heat. My mahonia is gone, my chili petins are gone, and my cactus is shriveling. Plants I water are dry in hours. The high winds are as drying as the sun. Of course Vic my friend in St Louis recently had two days without rain. The Hot Tub went to Brenham Texas to Quibe Farms, a Texas Land Steward 100 year old same family farm owned by a master naturalist. The restored farm house was like going back to my great grandma's farm house, better decorated and painted, with AC. It takes a while to discover all of Charlotte's decorations and keesakes. Some are very old. Most of the farm ponds in the area had been bulldozed flatter and deeper in anticipation of rains. It was easy to start a conversation with any shop owner; just remark how hot and dry it was. I am sure Quibe Farms is beautiful with its creek running, but in this heat & dry not a creature was stirring. The 4th of July will be no tolerance for any sort of out side fire including fireworks. Sad but necessary. Let‘s all be safe.
Blue Jay, Photo by David Reichert, Class #27 Vol. 15, No. 7—July, 2011
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These events are just for fun.
These events are just for fun.